AP

It varies from program to program. In my program, it varies from POI to POI. Some interview, others don't.

Absolutely, showcase the amount. It should read something like: 2017 Undergraduate Research Award, Department of History, University of my State - $4,500

No, it's not ok. In fact, it is the opposite of ok. Recruitment weekend is for you to evaluate the school. Unless you were told otherwise, family is not expected to attend, but you are welcome to ask questions. You mention it would be more acceptable if people brought spouses instead of bf/gf. I never heard of anyone bringing their family, but I think it would be acceptable if they are helping with the decision making. In this case, you just want to see your bf, which means this is going to keep you from interacting with your possible cohort since you want a room with him, and taking all the events seriously (remember you start early in the morning and finish late, it is not a vacation). You can however arrange for him to stay in the same hotel, or rent an Airbnb with him and pay it yourself. Moreover, you can stay a couple of days later and enjoy his company. We had a former undergrad from our department who was accepted and invited to the recruitment weekend. He spent all weekend hanging out with his friends and declined the offer. He used the department money to come here and party. It was so incredibly rude that his former advisor declined from writing any more LORs. This is a business trip and you should take it like that. Plan ahead if you want to see your bf, but do not overlap his visits with the recruitment weekend. Be professional from day 1.

Yes, I was going to add the French guys (international student here, where the French had a big influence): Braudel, Bloch, Febvre (not the Lefebvre, but you should also read him), Le Goff, Duby, Le Roy Laurie. They all were influenced by marxism. Speaking of marxism, the British guys: Hobsbawm, Carr, and E.P. Thompson. My two cents.

"Deeply"? Nobody calls your university/department and asks about them, if that is what you mean. Awards show that you were recognized for your research and in a PhD application that doesn't hurt. But if you are applying to a R1 PhD, most people have those too. Again, it is your SOP, LORs, and WS that counts, awards are not the final say.

Wait. Don't bother anyone.

I thought a lot about this response, because I thought that my initial reaction was silly. But it's not. The question you are asking is basically (also) how we –international students– come to the US to do a PhD. As I read responses and think of my own experience, I picture more and more the transition from abroad to a US system, with its history, its tensions, its tacit rules... Language is not the issue, but they way you present ideas is. I have been writing in English since I was 8, and I still struggle with several awkwardness in my work. Similarly, the American historical tradition is different from the one that influenced the production and teaching of history in my home country, which means that when I arrived I hadn't read "obvious" authors (like WEB Du Bois) and that many others were "basic" to me. Maybe the best response to your question is: immersing oneself in the other culture –either as a historian, a journalist, an observer, a traveler– is probably the most efficient way to overcome any distances.

Yes. In my case I had to juggle meetings with panels at the Hilton all Friday. It was exhausting. Besides, wifi at the Hilton did not work (at least for me).

I know, I read that. The reason I asked is because in the schools I am familiar with, students take ethics sessions and submit their research for IRB approval. The approval –again, in the places that I'm familiar with– is a university-wide standard review. The Ethics sessions are more tailored to each type of research. My question was aimed at making sure that you know exactly what you need to carry out this research. One colleague of mine had to postpone her interviews because she was not aware that the Ethics part and the IRB part were two different requirements for her work. Best of luck.

You don't IRB? Are you sure? I have at least three examples in mind of "low-risk" research that still needed IRB. Contact your advisor AND your university to clarify this, just in case.

In other places besides what @anon1234567 mentioned, with half the applications, things work slightly different. Typically, the AdComm receives the application packages and they discard whatever they agreed on would be the minimum requirements (GRE scores or GPA or whatever). They also pay attention to degrees (some faculty admit students ONLY with an MA in hand) and sometimes they pay attention to international applications separately (I don't have an MA and was admitted anyway because my first degree was about 6 years long). Once the AdComm selects a good pool, they derive applications to caucuses and there they decide which candidates to interview on Skype. Based on the interviews, each faculty writes a report on the candidate that is read by a faculty from another caucus and they decide based on the reports who to make the offer to. After that, based on budget, previous years admissions, faculty leaves/retirement/etc, the AdComm suggests X number to the Grad School and the School makes the offer to you.

My advisor never attended, but I usually got weird times like 8.30 am. It never bothered me either. I always had friends though.

I know last time it was in DC it was like that: with the Hilton really "far". I agree, the shuttle was barely useful not to freeze to death, because it ran infrequently and without paying attention to when panels began. When it was in NY and ATL, the hotels were closer to each other, even had internal connections. @emhafe I'm glad you enjoyed it! I really like the AHA, I end up worn out in, but I get energized for the rest of the year.

Do you already have the people you are going to interview? Do you need IRB? Analyzing and writing, as @GreenEyedTrombonist mentioned, takes A LOT of time if done properly. What does your advisor say?

I hope you all had a great conference!! (despite the freezing frigid super cold weather).

Why don't you leave the program with an MA?

Of course you can say no.

I don't know what you mean by "better". Do you mean better ranked? (In which field? subfield? ranks are ok for having an idea of programs but they shouldn't be taken as whole truths, as many conversations in this forum suggested). Do you mean a better 'deal'? (More credits for you MA?) I don't think you'll get a better deal than skipping one year.

Loyola.

It is a good sign in the sense that your application is promising. Here is how: Let me tell you something that you will hear a lot in grad school. Committees (AdComms, grants, jobs, etc) receive applications. The first two piles they make is the absolutely yes and the absolutely no (usually because of missing materials, low grades/poor scholarship, etc). You are not in the absolute no, so meeting for coffee is, by all means, a good sign. This will be an informal interview which has it's pros and cons. Pros: you and they are relaxed. It is more of a conversation (it doesn't "feel" like an interview). The non-academic environment may also help you. Cons: since it's not formal, it can be used against you without further due. Also, we sometimes misinterpret informality with lack of professionalism and we use slang, very informal language, or silly phrases. Some tips: Be professional and remain professional in your language and your dress code. Avoid discourse sinkers such as "like" (My thesis was about like pirates), "you know" (I study, you know, pirates. [No, we don't know, that's why we are asking]), y'all (if applicable), inflating adverbs (I study an extremely important topic: pirates), and –the one that shuts me down every single time I hear it– "passionate" [yes, you are passionate/obsessed/whatever with whatever topic you chose. My passion is golf, so what? If you remain professional, you won't need to say you are passionate because you will have a strong argument for you topic to be interesting]. Don't ramble. Listen to the questions and answer them succinctly. Ask good questions. Also, and equally important: congrats on this coffee interview!

Do you mean letters of recommendation from professors or letters of support from departments/programs? Who is asking for them? What for? Can you provide more context?

I understand you are venting. Why would you ask this professor to support you if she does not? Find someone who can back you up, who has your vision, and agrees with your views on what art education should look like. That said, be careful not to burn any bridges! (I mean: yes, do vent here, but be careful not to do so in front of other people who may know her/her work).

@telkanuru worded my thoughts. I second his and @TMP questions completely. I want to draw your attention, @langcacdell24556, to the phrase "passion for history". In general, we in the upper years of a PhD refrain from this phrase not because we aren't passionate but because it is irrelevant for job/grant applications. You are correct in arguing that being passionate about something is a good reason to pursue that thing. However, it doesn't mean that your career will revolve around that. I am passionate about coffee, but I do not own a coffee plantation or coffee shop. So, to paraphrase the questions, why do you want to spend money in an Oxbridge MPhil? What is the professional yield of this? What do you see yourself doing? Just to be clear, no one is challenging your ability to go there or to be successful there. The question that we are inviting you to think about is about your career goals.

I agree with @TMP in their advice to avoid debt. If your goal is a PhD, then start planning now. Think very carefully what you need/want to achieve in a Master's so that your application to and your experience in a PhD program is successful. Making the decision of do a MA before a PhD is already a strategic call since you come from another field. Once you get accepted, you can begin planning your degree with the doctoral in program in mind. For example, would you need to take up any languages/other skills? What research support is available for you to develop archival research (if your topic is archival-based) so that you can show your experience in PhD applications? etc

Yes, of course. Just be careful not to generate a collective feeling of (more) anxiety unnecessary at this point.